The latest news from Lena Land Books is an interview with On The Rise magazine. Their motto is "we support the come up" and I was fortunate to be one of the many authors they are helping establish a place in the world of literature. The interview is below. Also feel free to check out the magazine and their influence in the world of music, television, film and literature.
OTR: Hello, Lena how are you today?
Lena: I am blessed.
OTR: Tell us about your latest book-
Lena: A Diamond in the Rough is one of several books I released under Lena Land Books. It is suspense- fiction. The story is a coming of age tale about a young girl, Diamond. She thinks she knows everything about life and love until she meets a bad boy and becomes pregnant. The birth of her first child is a wonderful and life changing event until the death of her son’s father three months later. After that her life spirals out of control. She goes from one extreme to the next to provide for her son. Diamond finally gets on track, earning enough money to move out of the projects that her mother, herself and her child were born into. By then it is too late and Diamond has to pay for her dark past.
OTR: Who is your publisher?
Lena: I self-publish all of my work through Lulu.com.
http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=4396638
OTR: How and when did you first become a traditionally-published author?
Lena: My publishing is non-traditional because I self-publish. There are many publishing houses but none of them came knocking at my door so I decided to put my books out independent of traditional publishers. However, I started working with Lulu.com in 2007.
OTR: How long have you been writing?
Lena: I have been writing since the age of eight, if memory serves me correctly.
OTR: Who inspires you as a writer?
Lena: All writers inspire me. I am just as fascinated by reading Maya Angelou as I am reading Richard Wright.
OTR: What makes you stand out as a writer?
Lena: My stories. My first book, A Diamond in the Rough is loosely based around my own experience of meeting my son’s father, becoming engaged, pregnant and ultimately widowed. I am sure all writers draw upon their experiences. Also I am marketing myself as not only an author but the President of Lena Land Books as well.
OTR: Where do you see yourself within the next several years?
Lena: I can see myself releasing more books, doing more interviews and eventually hearing my name mentioned with the greats such as; Maya Angelou, Gwendolyn Brooks, Toni Morrison, Richard Wright, Walt Whitman and so many others.
OTR: What else do you do besides write?
Lena: I am an Office Manager for MMG Mardiks, Public Relations. I am a mother. I also like to help others who feel they want to write a book, their memoirs or poetry but don’t know where to start.
OTR: Why did you decide to become a professional writer?
Lena: Before I go to bed at night I think about writing. When I wake up in the morning I have dozens of ideas for other books. I live to write. It’s my passion.
OTR: Who are your favorite authors?
Lena: This is such an unfair question for me. I enjoy reading journalistic essays by Joan Didion, Toni Morrison, Richard Wright, W.E.B DuBoise, Mark Twain, Shirley Jackson, Dr. Seuss and Emily Dickinson. I think I’ll stop here.
OTR: What are your favorite books?
Lena: The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Neffinegger, The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Richard Wright, SubKorean by Charles Kim and A Diamond in the Rough by Lena Williamson.
OTR: What is it that you most people do not know about you?
Lena: Most people do not know me at all. My closest friends would say I’m a hermit. I enjoy being alone. I was raised as an only child (half-brother on my father’s side) and my imagination created a foundation for the type of writer I am. I live in my head.
OTR: What do you think catapulted your success as an author?
Lena:
My persistence. Each and everyday I think of another way to get myself and Lena Land Books noticed. No matter what obstacles come across my path I believe persistence overcomes resistance.
(Read more...)
About Lena Land Books
Established in 2009, the goal of Lena Land Books is to reach as many readers in different genres as possible, from fantasy fiction to fairy tales, all under the pen of one author. Lena Land Books has released five titles under three different genres since its inception. In 2011 Lena Land Books released all titles in e-book format. What makes all of these accomplishments a remarkable feat is the fact it is all done by one person, author Lena Williamson.
OTR: Hello, Lena how are you today?
Lena: I am blessed.
OTR: Tell us about your latest book-
Lena: A Diamond in the Rough is one of several books I released under Lena Land Books. It is suspense- fiction. The story is a coming of age tale about a young girl, Diamond. She thinks she knows everything about life and love until she meets a bad boy and becomes pregnant. The birth of her first child is a wonderful and life changing event until the death of her son’s father three months later. After that her life spirals out of control. She goes from one extreme to the next to provide for her son. Diamond finally gets on track, earning enough money to move out of the projects that her mother, herself and her child were born into. By then it is too late and Diamond has to pay for her dark past.
OTR: Who is your publisher?
Lena: I self-publish all of my work through Lulu.com.
http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=4396638
OTR: How and when did you first become a traditionally-published author?
Lena: My publishing is non-traditional because I self-publish. There are many publishing houses but none of them came knocking at my door so I decided to put my books out independent of traditional publishers. However, I started working with Lulu.com in 2007.
OTR: How long have you been writing?
Lena: I have been writing since the age of eight, if memory serves me correctly.
OTR: Who inspires you as a writer?
Lena: All writers inspire me. I am just as fascinated by reading Maya Angelou as I am reading Richard Wright.
OTR: What makes you stand out as a writer?
Lena: My stories. My first book, A Diamond in the Rough is loosely based around my own experience of meeting my son’s father, becoming engaged, pregnant and ultimately widowed. I am sure all writers draw upon their experiences. Also I am marketing myself as not only an author but the President of Lena Land Books as well.
OTR: Where do you see yourself within the next several years?
Lena: I can see myself releasing more books, doing more interviews and eventually hearing my name mentioned with the greats such as; Maya Angelou, Gwendolyn Brooks, Toni Morrison, Richard Wright, Walt Whitman and so many others.
OTR: What else do you do besides write?
Lena: I am an Office Manager for MMG Mardiks, Public Relations. I am a mother. I also like to help others who feel they want to write a book, their memoirs or poetry but don’t know where to start.
OTR: Why did you decide to become a professional writer?
Lena: Before I go to bed at night I think about writing. When I wake up in the morning I have dozens of ideas for other books. I live to write. It’s my passion.
OTR: Who are your favorite authors?
Lena: This is such an unfair question for me. I enjoy reading journalistic essays by Joan Didion, Toni Morrison, Richard Wright, W.E.B DuBoise, Mark Twain, Shirley Jackson, Dr. Seuss and Emily Dickinson. I think I’ll stop here.
OTR: What are your favorite books?
Lena: The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Neffinegger, The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Richard Wright, SubKorean by Charles Kim and A Diamond in the Rough by Lena Williamson.
OTR: What is it that you most people do not know about you?
Lena: Most people do not know me at all. My closest friends would say I’m a hermit. I enjoy being alone. I was raised as an only child (half-brother on my father’s side) and my imagination created a foundation for the type of writer I am. I live in my head.
OTR: What do you think catapulted your success as an author?
Lena:
My persistence. Each and everyday I think of another way to get myself and Lena Land Books noticed. No matter what obstacles come across my path I believe persistence overcomes resistance.(Read more...)
About Lena Land Books
Established in 2009, the goal of Lena Land Books is to reach as many readers in different genres as possible, from fantasy fiction to fairy tales, all under the pen of one author. Lena Land Books has released five titles under three different genres since its inception. In 2011 Lena Land Books released all titles in e-book format. What makes all of these accomplishments a remarkable feat is the fact it is all done by one person, author Lena Williamson.
A Diamond in the Rough, self-published 2009
